First Advisor's Committee Title

Second Advisor's Name

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Third Advisor's Name

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Fourth Advisor's Name

Jennifer Doherty-Restrepo

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Childbirth, birth, pregnancy, labor, delivery, maternal, education

Date of Defense

11-7-2016

Abstract

No childbirth education (CE) programs are available in the public sectors in Jordan. Many studies from Jordan recommended that pregnant women be educated about their health needs during pregnancy and childbirth. From the literature, CE programs were found to have positive effects on pregnancy and childbirth outcomes. Four focus groups with pregnant women, midwives and physicians were conducted to examine the perceptions of pregnant women, midwives and physicians regarding the content, feasibility, and challenges of implementing a CE program in Jordan. The 4 focus groups, two with pregnant women (one group with 8 primiparous women and one group with 6 multiparous women), one with 8 midwives, and one with 6 physicians were presented with the content, timing, and a description of three existing CE programs. Findings indicated that pregnant women’s sources of knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth were mainly from other females and doctors but not from midwives. Younger pregnant women reported the Internet as an important source of pregnancy and childbirth knowledge. Findings showed that women were not sure of what they wanted to learn. Midwives and physicians wanted to include warning signs, physical exercises, psychological changes, vii nutrition, breast feeding, newborn heath, sexually transmitted diseases, pain management, postpartum physiology and care, family planning, and planning of pregnancy as content in a new CE program. All participants reported the need to include husbands in CE. However, husbands were considered a potential challenge to implementing a CE program. Other challenges were cost, staff, clients’ responses, and governmental policies. Midwives and physicians thought that CE should be included in free antenatal care. All participants reported support for a new CE program. Midwives and physicians suggested implementing the new program within the facilities of the Ministry of Health (MOH). This would decrease cost and the need for staffing for the new program. They suggested that the CE program could benefit from potential support from international sponsors that affiliate with the MOH. Potential benefits of CE could potentially help gain support from the MOH decision makers and the community in Jordan.

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